Jeremiah 1:1-10

1The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests living in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.

2The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah.

3It also came throughout the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.

4The word of the Lord came to me:

5I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

6But I protested, “Oh no, Lord God! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth.”

7Then the Lord said to me: Do not say, “I am only a youth,” for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you.

8Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to rescue you. This is the Lord’s declaration.

9Then the Lord reached out his hand, touched my mouth, and told me: I have now filled your mouth with my words.

10See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant.